Pay station



J. WRIGHT PAY STATION Oct. 25, 1938.

Filed April 14, 1935 J. r y /////fl//.// r/// /A a W 5 Q 3 9 W5. & S W OB I m 4 u w a m .w. o

Patented Oct. 25, 1938 v 11" D s'rAIEs BAY- STATION JosephL. Wright,;Forest Hills, Long .Island, N.Y.-; Ellen Hamilton, Clegg Wright, executrix of said Joseph L. Wright, deceased, assignor to George A. Auer, Chicago, ,Ill.

ApplicationApril 14, 1933, Serial No. 666,134

8,.Claims. (Cl. 179-63).

My invention relates .to-improvements in telephone pay stations or coin collecting devices.

It is the standard practice with telephone pay stations for the party originating a call to deposit a coin, or coins, which in case the connection is completed is under control of the operator at the exchange and is caused to enter the coinbox portion of the pay station.

In case the connection is not completed, the operator causes the coin to be returned to an exit compartmentwhere it may be taken by the party originating the call.

In the standard form of pay station in use, the party originating a call must deposit a coin even beforeconversing with the'operator. In my invention, the party desiring to originate a call may converse with the operator before depositing a coin, or before the coin is collected. The party calling, however, cannot converse with the called party unless he has actually deposited a coin.

The coin when deposited remains in view of the calling party and may be removed by him in case the called party does not answer, without being returned to an exit department by the operator.

In case the connection is completed, the coin is automatically collected when thecalled party answers, or under the control of the operator. After the conversation is completed, the coin automatically passes to the coin box.

In case of manually controlled pay stations, where the connections and depositing of the coin, or coins, is controlled by the operator. the pay station is provided with the usual bells, or gongs, to indicate the value and number of the coins deposited. The coins are collected under the control of the operator by the manipulation of a suit.- able switching device which determines which polarity or source of current is to be connected to the calling line. The current so connected to the calling line controls theoperation of a magnet at the pay station, which in turn controls the collection of the coin or coins. After the coins are collected and before they enter the coin box, suitable gongs are operated to indicate the value of the coin so collected, as disclosed in United States Patent No. 1,043,219 granted to 0-. F. Forsberg, November 5, 1912.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the pay sta- 0 tion is designed to automatically collect a coin for local or single calls without the supervision of an operator and for manual collection of coins under control of an operator for toll or extra service charges.

With my invention, in automatic telephone systems the coin is not collected until thecalled party answers, and under manual control the coins are collected under the supervision of the operator. Inv either event it is not necessaryto provide an exit compartment for the return of the. coins. I l

In pay stations .provided with a return or exit coin compartment it is possible to-stop upthe exit. portion by inserting paper, or other substances, to prevent the return of the coins. This practice is carried on to a large extent by thieving persons who atv certain intervals make the rounds of pay stations-so stopped up and obtain the coins intended to be returned to'the proper parties, by removing the obstruction.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing which shows the essential features of the pay station and controlling circuits. The frameworkof the pay station .is shown in section in order. to give a clear: understandingof the working of the mechanism.

In the present instance, I'haveshown a' slot or runway for but a single coin.

In case the pay station is to be operated by coins of three denominations-suchas a dime, a nickel,

and a..quarterlthere will be three runways each provided :with a standard. form of. gongmechamsm.

,As shown in the drawing, an electromagnet. H is attached tothe frameworkin any suitable man'- ner. The electromagnet is. provided. withan armature l2 pivoted at 60;- Anarm i3 is provided with a bearing l4 about which the arm5l5 moves. The .arm 15 extends through an opening 28in ,the frameportion 4.. The arm 15 is provided with an ear. I! which engages the-arm l8 pivoted at,l9.g 3

The arm IBisprQVided-With a bearing 20, uponwhichis mounted an. arm 2| arranged to pass ,through ,an opening 8 in the frame portion 4, and is provided withan insulated pin 22.

A set of insulated contactsprings 25, 26, and 21, are; fastened to the ,frame portion 4 in any'suitable; manner. The spring25. is provided'with an insulatedpin 6i which passesthrough an opening, 9. in the frame portion 4:;.Another insulated pinn23 is attaQhed to the frame, as shown;

As previou ly. stated, in case a three coin pay station is, to beprovided, there will ,be three slotsorrunways, Each'runway, will be provided with openings, to admit an arm l5 which will .be mountedupon the bearing IA of arm l3, as the electro-magnet II is common to and operatesthe three arms I5. Each runway willalsobe provided with an opening 8- for the reception of an ar 21, asthe three arms 2| will be mounted upon the bearing 20 of the common'arm I8. Each runway will also be provided with anopening 9 for the reception of a pin iii. The frontend of the contact spring -is broad enough to extend farenoughltobe. engaged by three pins v6| of the three runways.

It preferred, the end of the spring 26 can be extendeddn the; shape of air; soiall threepins biased position by the spring 29.

In the present instance,'I have shown the conductors 31 and 38 from the pay-stationterminating in terminals '|8-'|| and '|'l|8, respectively, which extend to a connecting circuit embracing two battery supply coils orwindings 48 and 4| and two battery supply windings 48 and 49, which are connected when the magnet windings ll of the pay station are;to be operated;

A switching key K is provided for, shifting each of the two sets of windings into connection with the conductors 31 and 38 at the proper time.

- I have but shown the essentialfeatures of the connecting circuit which may. be 7 applied to standard forms of circuits'well known in the art.

The connecting circuit may be a cordcircuit in manual systems or a selector or connector circuit in automatic systems. I

The two conductors 31 and 38 extend from the pay station to the exchange or central oilice which may be of the manual, semi-automatic, or full automatic type.

One type of manual system to which my invention is applicable is shown and described in United States Patent No. 1,128,646,.granted Feb ruary 16,1915, to J. L Wright. i

In the present application the'conductors 31 and 38 shown terminating in the terminals IO- H and 11-48, respectively, for simplicity, would terminate in the answering jack J of theUnited States Patent 1,128,646 to which reference ismade. The coils 40 and 4| would correspond'to thewindings Hand I of the cord circuit'which would be disconnected from conductors 3 and 4 by the switch key contactsiand'replaced by the windings '48.and.49 of the coils of the present application.

The operator in answering a call places plug P into the jack J of the calling line and places the calling plug P intothe jack J of the called line and connects ringing current to that line; When the called partyor subscriber answers; the operator manipulates the key or switching de-' vice which reverses the current to the calling line by disconnecting the battery 50 from the calling line and by connecting battery 5| through the windings of coils 48 and 49. The coil 48 would be equipped'with contacts as shown'on relay H of the Patent 1,128,646 in question. The battery 5|, as shown, is of greater voltage than that of 50 connected to windings of coils 40 and '4| to cause the operation of the polarized magnet coils ll of the pay station. It is to be noted that the battery supply in addition is also reversed when the switching key is operated.

The negative pole of battery is normally connected to conductor 38 through contacts 45 and 46 of the switching key. v i

When the switching key is operated, then the positive pole of battery 5| is connected to conductor 38' through contacts 41 and; 48. The polarity of current is also reversed through the contacts 42, 43, and 44, toconductor 31.

The operation of the pay station in a manual system for'local calls, for which the charge is a nickel, is as follows: 7

The subscriber in making a local call places a nickel 0 in the opening I, removes the-receiver The electromagnet is preferably of the polarized type and its armature. held'in a and gives the operator the number of the called party. Upon removal of the receiver, the talking circuit extends to the central ofllce over conductors 31 and 38 as follows: Ground, winding q 40, contacts 42, 43, terminals 10, H, conductor '31, receiver 3|, transmitter 30, conductor 35, contact 26, contact 21, contact 33, switch-hook 32, conductor 38, winding 4|. Windings of coils 40 and 4|, connected to battery 50, supply talking current to the calling subscriber at this time.

The operator manipulates her listening key and ascertains the number of the called party. When the called party answers, the operator who has supervision over the connection, operates the switch-key K, which disconnects the windings 40 and 4|, and in their place connects windings 48 and 49 connected tobattery' 5| which supplies talking current to the calling party during connection between the calling and-called party.

The effect is to reverse current on the line conductors 37 and 38 and cause the energization of the magnet windings II and cause the armature I2 to overcome the tension of spring 29 and draw down the arm I5. The nickel |IJ then passes over the end l6 of arm l5 and rolls down until it is stopped by arm 2 ,xwhich at this time is lifted in an upward position, 1

The lifting of arm 2| causespin- 22 to engage contact spring 26, thus lifting it from. engagement with contact spring 21 and opening the talking circuit.

When the nickelreachesthe arm 2|, which serves as a stop, it engages the pin El and forces contact spring 25 into engagement with contact spring 26, thus reclosing the talkingv circuit; At the termination of the conversation, the operator restores the switch-key to normal, which causes the arm l5 to assume its normal position and also arm 2|. Arm 2| in restoring allows the nickel to continue its movement and enter the vertical slot enclosed by sides 8 and 1 and to enter the coin-box. In dropping downthrough the vertical slot, it engages a' gong or signal in the manner disclosed in the Forsberg patent. It will be noted that the' calling party cannot converse with the called party unless the nickel has been deposited and engages the pin 6| to close the talkingcircuit.

Instead of,providing two pairs of coils in the connecting circuit at the exchange, a single pair as 48 and 49 may be provided. In this instance, one terminal'of'coil 48 would be connected to terminal 10' and one terminal of 49 would be connected to terminal 18. The switching 'key K would serve to connect either battery 58 or 5| to the remaining terminals of coils 48 and 49'to cause the reversal of current to' the line.

By using a single pair of coils and reversing the polarity of current therethrou'gh, it follows that the same pair of coils are used for supplying current for talking and signalling purposes regardless of the position of the switching key K.

For local calls, the operation of which has been described, the key K would be in its operated or non-normal position'utilizing battery 5| forsupplying current for talking and signalling purposes.

The operation of the pay station for local calls.

in an automatic telephone system is'thesame as in the manual system as described; Thereversal of current for operating the magnet H is automatically controlled when the called party removes his receiver instead of by the oper'ator manipulating the key M In automatic control, a relayis provided with contacts connected as are the contacts of key K. When the called party answers, the relay is operated as in standard practice and reverses the connection of the source of current supply to the calling line.

For sake of simplicity, I have preferred to show a manual operation for local calls as the operation of the pay station itself is the same by either manual or automatic method,

The reversal of current to the calling line under control of the called subscriber in automatic telephone systems is disclosed in various United States patents and it has not been thought neces-" sary to illustrate such a system.

In case of extra or toll service charges in a manual system the operation is as follows:

The subscriber makes a call as for a local or single charge call and gives the operator the name of the desired party and the location of the station. If the charge is, say, eighty cents, the operator will request that amount be deposited after the called party or station responds. We will assume the calling subscriber has two quarters, two dimes and two nickels in change, which amounts to the charge of eighty cents. A quarter may be deposited in the quarter-opening, a dime in the dime-opening, and a nickel in the nickelopening, or one coin can be deposited at a time and in any order.

The collection of the coins is under control of the operator, who by operating the key K a sufficient number of times causes a plurality of reversals of current on the calling line. These reversals of current cause a corresponding number of operations of the magnet H and consequent operations of the arms l and M, thus allowing the coins as they are deposited to enter the slots, engage the stop arms, and then be releasedto enter the vertical portion of the slots provided with the end walls 6 and I. In dropping down the vertical portions, the coins engage the gongs which indicates to the operator the value of the coins collected, after which they enter the coinbox. After the operator receives the indication that the proper amount has been collected namely, eighty cents-the key K is left in its normal position as shown in the drawing. In this position the current from source 50 is connected to the calling line, thus allowing the armature of magnet II to assume the position shown in the drawing and causing the talking circuit to be closed for conversational purposes.

From the foregoing description, it will be noted that the talking circuit at the pay station may be opened or closed at will under control of the operator at the exchange.

It will also be noted that for local calls or automatic calls the talking circuit is closed by a coin or coins engaging the pins 6 I, and that for supervised toll or extra charge calls the talking circuit is under control of the operator at the exchange. This arrangement avoids the use of a return or exit coin compartment, for in local or automatic calls the coin remains in the aperture Where it may be removed in case the called forv party does not answer. In case of supervised calls, the coins are collected under control of the operator when the called party answers and cannot be collected until that time.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to procure by Letters Patent is:

1. A telephone station provided with a coincollecting device, an operators position, an aperture in said coin-collecting device for the insertion of a coin and wherein it is held displayed for ready removal, means controlled at said operators position for causing said coin to advance a certain position within said aperture to prevent its removal, and additional means controlled from said operators position for causing said coin to advance still further within said aperture.

2. A telephone provided With a talking circuit and a coin-collecting device, means for holding a coin displayed for ready removal in said device, an exchange, means controlled from said exchange for operating said coin collecting device for opening and closing said talking circuit at will and for preventing the removal of the coin.

3. A telephone provided with a talking circuit and a coin-collecting device, said coin-collecting device provided with an aperture for receiving a deposited coin and whereinv it is held for ready removal, an exchange, means controlled from said exchange for opening said talking circuit and for causing the coin to travel a predetermined distance in said aperture to prevent its removal, and means controlled by the deposited coin for closing said talking circuit after it travels said predetermined distance.

4. A telephone provided with a talking circuit and a device for the reception of a deposited coin wherein it is held in position for ready removal, an exchange, means controlled from said exhange for opening said talking circuit and for preventing the removal of the coin, and means thereafter controlled by the deposited coin for closing said talking circuit.

5. A telephone provided with a talking circuit and a device for the reception of a deposited coin wherein it is held in position for a' ready removal, an exchange, means controlled from said exchange for either opening or closing said talking circuit and for preventing the removal of the coin, and means controlled by the deposited coin for closing said talking circuit when it is opened by the means controlled from the exchange.

6. Coin controlled apparatus provided with a coin chute having an aperture for the reception of a coin, an electro-magnet, a stop for holding a deposited coin displayed at said aperture Where it may be readily removed, means for operating said electro-magnet, means responsive to operation of said electro-magnet to cause the said stop to release the deposited coin and permit the same to enter said chute for a predetermined distance suificient to prevent removal of the coin, and additional means responsive to operation of said electro-magnet for preventing movement of the coin beyond said predetermined distance.

7. In a coin controlled device, the combination of a sloping passageway in which a coin is adapted to advance by gravity, said passageway having an opening at one end for reception of a deposited coin, a normally effective stop for holding a coin at said opening where it can be retrieved, a normally ineffective stop for holding a coin further along in said passageway where it cannot be retrieved, an electro-magnet, and means controlled by operation of said magnet for rendering the first stop ineffective and the second stop effective.

8. A coin controlled device as claimed in claim 7, in which the second stop is rendered ineffective responsive to an additional operation of said magnet.

JOSEPH L. WRIGHT. 

